Monthly Archives: December 2014

In my Video #4 on “Who or What are God and Christ,” I showed you that that the meaning of Christ, as 1 Cor. 1:24 states, is the “power of God, and the wisdom of God.” I also showed you that as God is a spirit, and as that which is born of the flesh IS flesh, and that which is born of the spirit IS spirit, that the son of God does not constitute a flesh and blood male figure. In fact, the biblical definition of “sons,” is not “children,” as is so erroneously translated in most English versions of the Bible.

In my Video #5 on Science and Religion, I covered the fact that it is man that constitutes biblical creation – that WE are the earth; that WE are the land where the seed of Christ (Adam) is planted, that WE are also the grave – the “heart of the earth” – in which the Christ lay dead for three days and three nights, and that biblical Earth has absolutely nothing – zip, zilch, nada – to do with our literal material creation. I also showed you in my article entitled “Biblical Marriage,” that biblical marriage has nothing to do with a relationship between a natural man and woman, but constitutes the relationship between you and Christ (Eph. 5:32); that the two (you and Christ) become one flesh. That Christ thus comes in YOUR flesh, and that anyone who does not bring this doctrine that Christ comes in YOUR flesh is a deceiver and an anti-Christ (1 John 4:2-4). Indeed, greater is he that is IN YOU than he that is in the world.

If you have not reviewed the aforementioned videos/article, I would suggest doing so before continuing with this article. Otherwise, much of it will probably not make much sense to you.

Now with this backdrop, what then does the “blood of Christ” mean? The Bible tells us that it is Christ IN YOU that is the hope of glory. The Bible also says that the blood of Christ saves us from our sins, and is what justifies us. There has been much fuss made in the media throughout history depicting Jesus as a male figure being tortured in his flesh for our sakes. Movies like The Passion of the Christ portray with vivid detail a man who literally went through hell and submitted to death in order to save humanity from its sins. We watch movies like this, and our hearts are ripped apart. The impassioned pleas of the religious among us to believe in such a one allegedly sent by God affect us at our core and lead us to believe that a literal God has gone to great lengths to redeem our souls through the great gift of God that is the literal Christ. The offer of reliance on this great gift is the primary reason why the Christian religion has more recently supplanted Hinduism as the world’s largest religion. Mankind, in general, needs something on which to “hang its hat,” and reliance on the shed blood of the literal Christ appears to fulfill that need.

We are led to believe that the Omnipotent, the Almighty God who can do all things could not have saved us any other way than, literally speaking, to let his “only begotten son” be mercilessly slaughtered, brutally mutilated, because that is the only way he could save us. Furthermore, scripture tells us that only blood can save us from sin, and that only the blood of Christ has the power to do that.

So let’s seek to understand exactly what scripture means by the blood of Christ.

The Soul of the Flesh IS the Blood

In Leviticus 17, verses 11 and 14, of the King James Version of the Bible, we read this:

(11) For the life of the flesh [is] in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it [is] the blood [that] maketh an atonement for the soul. … (14) For [it is] the life of all flesh; the blood of it [is] for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh [is] the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off. (Lev 17:11, 14 KJV)

Now this is a relatively well-known scripture, but once again the translators have done a stellar job of leading us down a blind and dark alley. The word “life” in these verses is a mistranslation. The word is actually “soul.” The Hebrew word is nephesh, and the Strong’s number is H5315. One of the things I find absolutely incredible here is that in the same verses the translators actually translate that word correctly in the places where you actually read the word “soul.” Why in the world would they translate the same Hebrew word into two different words in the same verse??? Mindboggling! Reading these verses the way the King James Version translates them, you could never accurately understand them.

Now let’s look at the Concordant Literal Version (CLV) of the Bible, which though not perfect, more accurately translates the Hebrew into English in these verses, and let’s see if we can learn something about the soul:

(11) [F]or the soul of the flesh, it is [in] the blood, and I Myself have assigned it to you to make a propitiatory shelter over your souls on the altar; for the blood, inthe soul it makes a propitiatory shelter … (14) for the soul of all flesh is its blood; as its soul is it. So I said to the sons of Israel: The blood of any flesh you shall not eat, for the soul of all flesh, it is its blood. Everyone eating it shall be cut off. (Lev. 17:11; 14 CLV)

Now in verse 11, the word “in” (which I have highlighted for you) does not appear in the Hebrew, but was translated into the text. The correct phrase is “for the soul of the flesh IS the blood,” which is reiterated, almost verbatim, in verse 14. So why, in the 11th verse, did the translators add the word “in?” Did they not see the correct translation just a couple of verses down?

So what the Bible is saying here is that the soul is the blood, and whatever this soul, or blood, is, it makes a propitiation – or atonement. But none of this is literal. Try to stay with me here, because this is critical information, as you will soon see.

Remember that I shared with you that biblical marriage has nothing to do with a relationship between a natural man and woman. Once again, Eph. 5:32 says about marriage, “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” So again, as I have redundantly stated in the past, marriage is the union between man and God, and the two (man and God) become one flesh.

The soul is what the scriptures call “Adam,” the one who becomes “Christ” (Gen. 2:7; 1 Cor. 15:45), Christ being the “quickening,” or “life-giving spirit” that is IN YOU. This is the Christ for which Paul labors in travail until he is formed IN YOU; and it is THIS Christ (Christ IN YOU) that is the “hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). This information is very critical to the meaning of the blood of Christ, so let’s take a look at a few scriptures that corroborate this. Also, remember that I showed you in prior videos that the Bible is a language all to itself, and that one of the keys to understanding the language of the scriptures is to understand that in many cases, the last part of a two-part verse (verses separated by commas) explains the first part of the verse.

We already looked at Lev. 17:11 and 14 in the Old Testament, which points out that the soul IS the blood that makes atonement, or propitiation. This is the same language used in the New Testament of the Christ. Let’s look at a few scriptures here:

Whom God hath set forth a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. (Rom. 3:25)

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Rom. 5:9)

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. (1 John 2:2)

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son, the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)

The word “propitiation” in these verses is a synonym for “atonement,” or “reconciliation,” or “covering.” So the soul is the blood that makes atonement for sin. This soul, or blood, is the “life of the flesh,” i.e., the life of YOUR flesh. Thus, the soul is the “blood of Christ” that comes in YOUR flesh, and “greater is he that is IN YOU, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Blood in the Biblical Sense, in General

Because the biblical Christ is IN YOU, and not outside of you, understand that the biblical symbol that is the blood of Christ has nothing to do with the literal blood of a literal man who gave his literal life for you. But before we get into the biblical meaning of the blood of Christ, let’s take a look at biblical blood – the blood of man – in a general sense, and once again remember that the second part of a two-part verse very often explains the first part of the verse.

Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. (Ps. 5:6)

This is an example of the second part of a verse defining the first part of it. The word “leasing,” in this verse – “kazab” in Hebrew, Strong’s H3577 – is generally translated in the KJV as “lies,” or “deceit.” This verse describes the bloody man as one who “speaks leasing,” or one who speaks lies and deceit against the Lord. Remember, all Bible concepts are spiritual, NOT literal, or natural.

We are dealing with the tongue here. So the biblical definition of a “bloody man” is one who “speaks lies” about “God.” Indeed, lying about God – in other words, “saying” (which is the offspring of “believing”) that God is something that he is not – is tantamount to spiritual manslaughter. This is not a result of a “being” (which is usually what we equate God with) deciding to punish you for your “sin,” but is merely the result of your not understanding who and what God really is. Until you understand what God is, and where God dwells, it will be impossible to accurately seek and find him, for you will not find him where he is not. In fact, the definition of “salvation” is to “know God” and Christ “whom he hath sent” (John 17:3).

The entire discourse of Job’s three neighbors bears witness to this verse. Remember that they condemn Job without being able to prove their accusations against him. They hurl “God” at him in much the same way that some religious people hurl God at those they deem “sinners.” But they had no clue what they were talking about, as God makes plain in the end of this fabulous allegory. At the end of the story, Job was told to pray for them, as God was otherwise going to destroy them because they “have not spoken of me right, as my servant Job has” (Job 42:7).

In other words, their words – their tongues – were about to cast them into hell (Jam. 3:6).

These three neighbors of Job who speak these false words about God – though well-intentioned – are what the Bible defines as “bloody men.” So let’s take a look at some scriptures that corroborate this. I will annotate notes in bold and double parentheses.

Their sorrows shall be multiplied [that] hasten [after] another [god]: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips. (Ps. 16:4) ((Note: Drink offerings (of blood) and taking “names into my lips” all reference words that come out of your mouth. It’s all about the tongue.))

Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. (Ps. 51:14) ((“Bloodguiltiness” (in the first part of the verse) is the wrong use of the tongue, the “speaking of lies,” while the second part of the verse addresses the correct use of the tongue. It’s all about the tongue.))

But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee. (Ps. 55:23) ((The “pit of destruction” (hell) is the result of the froward tongue (James 3:6).))

Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men. (Ps. 59:2) ((Again, the second part of the verse clarifies the first part of it.))

He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence, and precious shall their blood be in his sight. (Ps. 72:14) ((Cleansing the soul (the blood) from deceit and violence (the tongue) makes it “precious.” Again, the last part of the verse explains the first part.))

They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. (Ps. 94:21) ((The last part of the verse defines the “soul of the righteous” as “innocent blood”. The soul is the blood.))

Christ is called the son of God. He is also called the “Word of God.” I covered in Video #2 that the definition of biblical fruit is the words that come out of your mouth, or the “fruit of your lips” (Prov. 18:20; Heb. 13:15). I also covered in my Video #4, that Christ is a symbol, or metaphor, for the power of God and the wisdom of God that is within you.

[Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:17)

Remember also that I shared with you earlier in this article that the spiritual meaning of the “blood of men” is lies and deceit – the words that come out of our mouths. Well, the biblical Christ is also a symbol for the words that come out of our mouths, and the words of Christ are the words of God. Indeed, Christ is called “The Word of God.” The word is spoken by the tongue. Further, Christ is the way, the truth and the “life” (John 14:6), and “death and “life” are in the power of the tongue (Prov. 17:21). This would seem to be a contradiction, but with the knowledge that Christ is also a metaphor for the tongue – the “Word of God” (or the “Word of Love”) – this seeming contradiction is resolved.

Drink my Blood

The Bible tells us to eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ, and of course this is not literal, but spiritual. What is it saying?

“My blood is drink indeed,” says the Christ:

And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, “this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.” (Mk. 14:23-24)

“This is my blood.” These are not just idle words that have no meaning. There is great significance in these words.

What was it they were drinking?

Let’s drop down to verse 25:

Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God (Mark 14:25). See, also, Matt. 26:29 and Luke 22:18.

So what is this incredible allegory saying to us? It is a mystery, and I am about to explain the mystery to you, if you can receive it.

Jesus says “I am the vine and you are the branches” (John 15:1). Jesus is also the Spirit of God (2 Cor. 3:17). This is what Christianity refers to as the “Trinity.” Indeed the three (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit) are all one, and that one dwells within you. This is biblical marriage – the two (you and God) become one flesh, and greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. Thus, all power is within you.

So here is the blood of Christ defined. God is a spirit, and that spirit is love (2 Tim. 1 7; 1 John 4:8). Christ is the son of God, and is also a spirit, and “that which is born of the spirit IS spirit” (John 3:6). Therefore, the fruit of the vine (the vine being Christ, who also is the spirit (2 Cor. 3:17)) is the fruit of the spirit.

THE BLOOD OF CHRIST IS THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.

The fruit of the spirit is what the scriptures call the “sons of God.” Christ is the “firstborn” son, or love.

Now let’s take a look at the fruit of the spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law (Gal. 5:22-23).

Did you catch that? Love is the first of the fruit of the spirit, and is thus the fruit of the vine. Again, God IS love, and Christ represents the power to love. Thus, the blood of Christ is love.

Yes, it ALL boils down to love. Love is the beginning and the end. Love is the Alpha and the Omega. Love is the first and the last. Love is the be-all and the end-all.

It is ALL about love.

Finally, let’s look at how sin is atoned for, because both love AND Christ are represented in scripture as the covering for sin. This is further proof that when the scriptures speak about love, and about Christ, they are speaking of one and the same.

Christ’s Atonement for Sin

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins (Mat 26:28).

Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God (Rom 3:25).

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace (Eph 1:7).

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin (1 John 1:7).

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)

Love’s Atonement for Sin

Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins (Prov. 10:12).

For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them (Luke 6:32).

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, [the same] loveth little (Luke 7:47).

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins (1 Pet. 4:8).

Love never fails (1 Cor. 13:8).

Indeed, our greatest spiritual request should be to learn how to love. Love truly is the power of God. In fact, love IS God. To be born again is to be born of love:

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love (1 John 4:8).

Questions? Comments? Please let me know in the comment section below.

Until next time, this is Paul Young saying, flee from the crowd and dwell with the Christ within you. Christ IN YOU, your hope of glory.